Good Trips: South Georgia

As temperatures climb toward 100 degrees, the Chattahoochee River shimmers below. It twists and turns through downtown Columbus, creating rapids that draw adventure seekers to the waterway dividing this Georgia city and Phenix City, Alabama.

Outside Whitewater Express, Auburn University graduates Caleb Jones and Clint Schiever put a dozen newcomers through a cramming session before taking on the river. Better safe than sorry. While the river delivers an adrenaline rush, its waters can be unforgiving.

That challenge is what brought many of the nation’s top freestyle kayakers here for the Columbus Cup in April. It’s also why Columbus has earned international attention ahead of the International Canoe Federation Freestyle World Cup in 2028 and the ICF Freestyle World Championships in 2029.

As the experts lead the novices through the winding water, it’s the signal for us – time to start our trip.

But this is merely the first leg of our journey. We’ll soon meet with Kristina Justice, our Regions bank teammate. For her, Columbus is more than a typical Southern city. It’s home. The longtime market executive for Regions Bank has built a career here, most recently serving small businesses and growing companies with financial guidance. She will serve as our guide to South Georgia, too, because few people know the towns, the culture, the history and the potential the way she does.

Plains, Georgia

We meet Justice on the outskirts of the city, where hundreds of parents, family members and loved ones have gathered for graduation ceremonies at Fort Benning. The atmosphere is joyful and the pride unmistakable. But we have a road trip ahead to the small community forever linked to America’s 39th president.

James Earl Carter Jr. first distinguished himself as an exceptional student, earning admission to the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduation, he served as a naval officer aboard surface ships and submarines before helping lead the cleanup of a damaged nuclear reactor in Canada in 1952.

After his father’s death, Carter returned to Plains to run the family’s peanut and farm-supply business. Political ambitions followed, leading to successful campaigns for governor of Georgia and eventually president of the United States.

Inside the Plains Trading Post, a general store built in 1902, Phillip Kurland holds court. He’s accustomed to a steady stream of visitors. The former president was once among them.

“President Carter was here every week,” Kurland said. “He’d come in and ask, ‘How’s business?’ Then we’d sit around and talk. Rosalynn would guide the conversation, and we’d fire questions back and forth. The conversations were deep, sharp and fast.”

The parade of visitors has continued since the passing of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, giving Kurland plenty of company in his second career.

“I’ve been here 30 years after a long career in direct-mail marketing,” Kurland said. “I like it because you meet the world every day. From my perspective, 99 percent of the world is terrific. Only 1 percent are rude.”

Americus, Georgia

Behind the counter at Little Brothers Bistro, Steve Miller manages the lunch rush with efficiency and charm. The menu is impressive. We sample several sandwiches and the lobster bisque, leaving both stuffed and satisfied.

“Americus is a gem of a town, and over the years I’ve fallen in love with this part of my trip – especially the food at Little Brothers,” Justice said.

With a population of fewer than 17,000, Americus is small in size but feels like a destination. Downtown is bustling, and next door to Little Brothers Bistro stands the Windsor Hotel, a five-story Queen Anne-style landmark built in 1892. The hotel closed in 1970 before beginning an extraordinary revival following Carter’s election.

Franklin D. Roosevelt once delivered a campaign speech in the hotel’s dining room. Carter was also a frequent visitor. But perhaps his most enduring contribution to the area came through Habitat for Humanity, which established its international headquarters in Americus and remains a defining part of the community’s identity.

“It’s a charming place,” Miller said. “It’s right in the middle between Tallahassee and Atlanta, and Jacksonville, so a lot of people just wind up meeting here. They come here and tend to want to stay.”

Cordele, Georgia

Next stop: the Watermelon Capital of the World.

Justice has traveled these roads for years, first overseeing Regions Bank branches across South Georgia and now as a commercial relationship manager who still makes regular visits throughout the market.

As we arrive, Justice signals for a stop at Stripling’s General Store, one of her favorite destinations. The store carries everyday essentials, but it’s best known for specialty foods, homemade sausages and its butcher shop.

“I usually come in here, grab something to eat and some beef jerky, then head over to the marina and eat lunch,” she said.

Under a canopy of trees near the shoreline of Lake Blackshear, it’s easy to escape the heat and noise of daily life, if only briefly. The calm doesn’t last long. For most of the year, the lake buzzes with golfers, boaters and residents fortunate enough to call the resort home.

“During Evergreen Week (an annual celebration or Regions associates), I rent a pontoon boat so the team can enjoy a day on the water together,” Justice said.

Ashburn, Georgia

We are in the heart of South Georgia farm country, in a town known as the Peanut Capital of the World.

Some visitors come for outdoor recreation. Others stop while passing through, drawn by one of the state’s most unusual attractions: the world’s largest peanut monument.

The Peanut Statue debuted in 1975 and quickly became a favorite roadside attraction.

When Hurricane Michael tore through South Georgia in 2018, the original statue was toppled. A few years later, it was replaced with a steel version. The upgrade served a practical purpose. The original fiberglass structure had become a target for vandals using it for shooting practice.

Today, the giant peanut continues to attract curious visitors from near and far.

Valdosta, Georgia

Welcome to Titletown USA.

Local branch manager Sarah Wickstrom joins our caravan, and we head directly to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, home to NCAA Division II powerhouse Valdosta State University and perennial high school contender Valdosta High School.

“If you’re here on a weekend, you’re probably at the stadium,” Wickstrom said. “But the biggest game comes at the end of the season, when Lowndes and Valdosta play each other. We call it ‘Winnersville,’ and it’s every bit as intense as Georgia-Florida.”

No wonder. Across town, Lowndes County has a similar reputation for championship football, playing home games at a venue known throughout the state as “The Concrete Palace.”

The “Titletown USA” designation became official in 2008 after Valdosta won a nationwide ESPN fan vote. More than a decade later, Netflix further amplified the city’s football reputation with the documentary series Titletown High, which followed the Valdosta High football program.

One final stop on this leg of the journey: Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, where business owner Leo Escalera greets us for dinner. A native of Mexico, Escalera has become a respected community figure while building the restaurant into a local favorite.

“We’ve been here 22 years, and we’ve been blessed,” Escalera said. “The people welcomed us from the start and still have our backs.”

The only challenge after a memorable meal is the 3-hour drive back to Columbus. For Justice, however, it’s a familiar routine.

“I love South Georgia,” she said. “I love the people and the drive, except when you get stuck behind a slow 18-wheeler. This is home. There’s a quietness here that’s unmatched, with a blend of Old South charm and a little bit of Old Florida.”

Next Day: Columbus

We join Justice for one final stop before heading home: NeighborWorks Columbus, a nonprofit leader in affordable housing and financial empowerment.

“I was at Regions many years ago,” said CEO Kimberly Hinton-Poole. “Divine intervention brought me here. I’d never worked for a nonprofit before.”

Justice serves on the NeighborWorks board of directors and began her service before Hinton-Poole became CEO. Their relationship, however, goes back much further.

“When I first got here, she came by and I shouted, ‘Kristina!’ Then she shouted, ‘Kimberly!’ and we hugged,” Hinton-Poole said. “I told everyone, ‘Kristina trained me.’ She used to be my boss at Regions. I can’t think of a better fit for our board than Kristina.”

Hinton-Poole took a chance on herself when she accepted a housing counselor position in 2017.

“Every day I come to work, it feels like I was meant to be here,” she said.

“This brings me the greatest joy. We transform lives. We help create first-generation homeowners who often become the parents of first-generation college graduates. We’re breaking generational cycles and helping families build lasting legacies.”

Experiences and opinions stated by individuals are their own. Some of the businesses and entities referenced may be customers of Regions.. References to companies in this video not owned by Regions do not imply endorsement.